Frontier Airlines that has been serving the passengers across the
United States may be sold very soon. The airline is holding talks with a
Phoenix based private equity firm and the negotiations might turn
fruitful in the near future. Apparently, the firm intends to turn the
Denver based carrier into an ultra-low-fare airline and follow the
business philosophies of rivals Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air.

Trenton Mercer and New Castle near Wilmington are two airports
dedicatedly served by Frontier. The airline currently operates 35
outbound flights to ten cities per week from Trenton and has 14 flights
departing for five cities every week from Wilmington.

Most of the airline’s flights are 90 to 95 percent occupied at the time
of departure. Experts suggest that the airline has done a great job in
past and hence any buyer would be keen on taking over and develop
relationships with the two airports.

Republic Airways Holdings, which currently owns Frontier disclosed a few
days ago that it had signed a nonbinding agreement with an unnamed
buyer. The deal is under process and is expected to close towards the
end of September 2013.

Indigo Partners L.L.C., a Phoenix based firms is suspected to be the
potential buyer. This firm has keen interests in investing in low cost
airlines around the world. It holds stakes in Spirit, Singapore based
Tiger Airways and Hungary’s Wizz Air.

Frontier has been running business on an ideology much similar to that
of Spirit and Allegiant. It uses a combination of smaller secondary
airports that charge lesser landing fees but hold proximity to large
metropolitan area and some major airports.

British Airways, the premier carrier of the United Kingdom launched
the Boeing 787-8 on London Heathrow-Toronto Pearson route on Sep 1. The
inaugural flight arrived in London at 14:55 hours and departed for
Toronto the same evening at 19:20 hours.

The new service is set to offer passengers comfort and decreased
jet-lag. The aircraft, which is fitted with mood lighting, quieter
cabins, lower air pressure, and better air quality, will help the
customers enjoy their long haul flight. The carrier also plans to launch
another Dreamliner on London-New York route beginning this October.

This Dreamliner can accommodate 214 passengers in three segments. There
are 35 seats for business class, 25 seats for premium economy, and 154
seats for economy class passengers. These cabins are made up of high
quality materials, contain comfortable seats, and have additional space
for the baggage. Passengers traveling on business class tickets will
benefit from full-flat seats along with a snack bar that remains open
through the journey.

This plane has large windows to offer the customers a better view of the
outside. The flight contains Thales entertainment system that offers
customers an option to choose from an assortment of movies, TV, music,
and interactive games. Passengers can also use the in-seat chat system
to communicate with fellow passengers seated elsewhere.

British Airways is taking the opportunity to add more Dreamliners to its
fleet. It aims at including 24 more of these Boeing aircrafts in the
next four years. It looks to refurbish these planes with smarter cabins,
elegant lounges, and new technologies for the travelers to enjoy their
journey in peace and ease.

All Nippon Airways or the ANA said that it was time for four of its
Boeing 747-400s to withdraw from service. The airline has fixed the
retirement of its last 747 aircraft that will operate between Naha,
Okinawa, and Tokyo on March 29, 2014.

At present, All Nippon Airways is using five of these planes on domestic
routes. The airline included the first Boeing 747SR-81 on December 20,
1978. It added its first Boeing 747-281B on June 25, 1985. The airline
said towering fuel prices has forced it to arrive at this decision. It
however, plans to replace these jets with smaller but more
cost-efficient alternatives.

Pikachu Jumbo, the 747 aircraft that is adorned with designs of Pikachu
and other characters from the famous Pocket Monsters animation series
commonly known, as Pokémon will also be amongst the four. This jet is
set to retire in September. The news might disappoint and break the
hearts of many children who have had the chance to board this colorful
plane.

This jet made its first public appearance in1998. It has since operated
on both domestic and international routes. The carrier also planned a
farewell flight on Haneda-Sapporo route connecting Tokyo and Hokkaido.
The airline made three round-trip flights each day until August 8, 2013.
The airline maintained that a related plane called Pokémon Jet would
continue to operate. This is a Boeing 777 aircraft. Another prominent
airline in Japan has already retired all its Boeing 747s.

The airline operates from its headquarters in Shiodome area in Minato,
Tokyo. It has flights to 49 destinations within Japan and 32 cities
across the world.

Allegiant Air that has been offering affordable air travel to
millions of passengers across the United States recently pulled out of
Gary, Indiana. Since Gary did not prove to be a very profitable route
for the airline, it decided to pull out. The withdrawal of this service
leaves Gary International Airport without any airline service.

The budget carrier operated its last flight from Gary, Indiana to
Sanford, Florida. The airport tried hard in the past to market itself as
one of the top three airports of Chicago. The carrier’s first flight
departed from this airport way back in February 2011. The MD-80 aircraft
packed with happy customers touched down at the Sanford International
Airport in Florida to a warm reception.

This time around, the situation was different. Though the flight was
packed, the atmosphere was dull. The electrifying aura and the hustle
bustle was missing. Everyone onboard knew that it was perhaps their last
flight from the city. Unfortunately, for Gary, Allegiant became the
sixth airline to cease operations since 1999.

The airport recently invested $166 million for runway expansion project.
The twice-a-week flight from the low cost carrier was its only hope.
Despite pumping money and efforts, Gary has failed to attract the
attention of airlines to operate from its base. However, ultimately it
is the customers who stand to lose from the withdrawal of airline
services from the city.

While other cities are flourishing and thriving, Gary has been standing
silently to witness the unpleasant turn of events. This news has not
only disheartened the airport authorities but passengers as well. They
will miss their chance to travel at cheap airfares on Allegiant Air from the
city.

Air Canada said it would be launching daily, year-round service
between Sydney, Nova Scotia and Toronto. The carrier plans to launch
this service from December 18, 2012. It said the increase in passenger
demand has prompted it to arrive at this decision.

The airline has been operating flights between Sydney and Cape Breton
for the past 71 years. There are a number of business and leisure
travelers frequenting the cities of Sydney and Toronto for work and
holiday. Keeping the flow of traffic and demand on mind the airline
decided to add this service. Passengers are definitely going to benefit
from these daily operations.

However, the new service will be operated by Jazz Aviation under the
brand of Air Canada Express. The airline will use the services of
50-seater CRJ 200 jets to fly on the route. This service is remarkable
as it will be the only nonstop, year-round offering between Sydney, Nova
Scotia and Toronto.

As per Air Canada, flights will depart Sydney at 05:55 and arrive in
Toronto at 07:30 same day. The return flights will depart Toronto
Pearson at 20:50 and arrive in Sydney at 00:10 next day.

On the other hand, there is good news for the airline travelers. The
airline reported adjusted net income of $115 million for the second
quarter of 2013 compared to the adjusted net loss of $7 million
year-over-year period. The EBITDAR recorded was $385 million at an
increase of $73 million. The carrier is doing a great job and it
reflects from its financial performance. Passengers can be assured that
their favorite carrier is indeed flying high!

Jet2, the leisure airline of the United Kingdom is expanding its
network to the United States. The low cost carrier operates flights from
eight cities in the UK to fifty destinations in Europe. It is now set
to widen its reach to North America by launching service to Boston, New
York and Toronto.

The airline said it is keen on offering its customers affordable travel
across the Atlantic in the United States and Canada. It expects to open
the new routes beginning spring 2014. With the commencement of its
service to these new destinations, passengers will get one more option
to book cheap tickets between the two counties.

Tickets to these destinations are already up for grabs. These can be
purchased for as low as $775* for round trip travel. The airline
industry is highly volatile and unpredictable. There are many
established airlines in the industry with loyal clientele, who help
boost their business. As such, it becomes difficult for these new
entrants to create a new market for themselves. Offering tickets at low
fares or marketing themselves using creative and innovative techniques
has become an important exercise to attract the potential customers.

The budget airline used one such unique trick to attract customers. To
promote a new route to Gran Canaria, Jet2 hit the streets with the Gran
Canaria Ice-Cream Van offering free ice creams and with a chance to win
free tickets to the isle. The van has been touring Glasgow, Manchester,
Leeds, and Newcastle.

The airline also has plans to broaden its scope and in line with its
policies wishes to explore the domain of charter flights. It aims to
offer charter flights to a few destinations outside of the United
Kingdom.

*These are round trip fares inclusive of government fees, taxes, and surcharges. Other terms and conditions may apply.